The Hindu : New Delhi News : Court notice to U.P., Centre on rallies

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Saturday, Nov 24, 2007
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Court notice to U.P., Centre on rallies

Legal Correspondent

‘Public money wasted on show of strength’

“Rallies cause traffic jams”
Organisers should pay for the inconvenience

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the Union government and Uttar Pradesh on a public interest litigation petition seeking a direction to restrain the authorities from organising rallies/processions and involving the State machinery and police for private ends.

A three-Judge Bench, comprising Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justices R.V. Raveendran and J.M. Panchal, issued the notice on the petition filed by senior journalist G.D. Goyal of Bihar complaining of use of official machinery by Railway Minister Lalu Prasad for a rally in Patna on October 28.

The Bench, while asking the petitioner to delete the names of Mr. Prasad and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati from the list of respondents, permitted him to implead all States as parties.

The petitioner, who argued in person, contended that politicians always had vested interests and in order to showpublic support, crores of rupees were spent on organising rallies and political processions. In the process most of the busy roads witnessed traffic jams and caused chaos. Those who had to reach hospitals, railway stations, bus terminals and airports were put to hardship.

Mr. Gopal said that on October 28, Mr. Prasad, as leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, organised the “chetavani rally” in Patna, for which the entire railway machinery was used.

The Railways operated 25 to 35 special trains and diverted 57 trains to Patna for the purpose. Even those who had confirmed reservation were denied seats or berths and the authorities and the police remained mute spectators, the petition said.

Similarly, Ms. Mayawati organised a rally in Lucknow on the birth anniversary of the late Kanshi Ram and that created total chaos. The petitioner said the manner in which rallies were being organised by political parties and private groups across the country showed that major part of the money was being wasted for show of strength.

The petitioner said the court should direct rally organisers to pay for the inconvenience caused to the public who could not reach hospitals, stations and airports and to lay down guidelines and parameters for organising rallies.

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